court of appeals

American  

Also Court of Appeals

noun

Law.

1. (in the U.S. federal court system and some state court systems) an appellate court intermediate between the trial courts and the court of last resort.

2. the highest appellate court of New York State.

3. British. Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Judicature

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court of appeals Cultural  

1. Courts, also called appellate courts, that are designed as part of the system of due process. Cases may be presented to these courts if a party is dissatisfied with the original court's decision. An appeal must demonstrate that a new decision is warranted, usually in light of new evidence or a persuasive argument that the Constitution was improperly interpreted. A case may be appealed to successively higher state or federal appellate courts until it reaches the United States Supreme Court. There are twelve federal courts of appeal, each covering a group of states called a “circuit.”

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Etymology

Origin of court of appeals

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

court of appeals

“Every court to consider the question, now totaling seventeen district courts and a federal court of appeals, have unanimously rejected this clear federal overreach,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

Camp filed a friend-of-the-court brief urging the court of appeals to side with Murrin.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 27, 2026

They were later acquitted by a court of appeals.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2025

They won before a federal judge and the U.S. court of appeals.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2025

They are called in the different states by different names; as circuit court, superior court, supreme court, and court of appeals.

From The Government Class Book Designed for the Instruction of Youth in the Principles of Constitutional Government and the Rights and Duties of Citizens. by Young, Andrew W.

Related Words

• appeals court
• appellate court